help me decide which one? both are all season tires with the same ballpark price. will be ordering 235-40-18 and using through the winter (NJ snow as well)

which do you suggest?

-Nilesh

 

I can't really speak for the Kumhos but I can in regards to the 512s. I have had these on my car since November '04 and I can't recommend them to anyone. Do yourself a favor and don't put these on your car. They make the car feel mushy and they are not a very favorable tire to take turns on. As of about a month or two ago, the tires started to get really loud. I will say that for the first couple of months I thought I liked the tires. But in the long run it simply isn't worth your time.

 

Don't go with the 512's.Heard people said that the ASX are pretty good.How about Toyo Proxy 4's Not that much more money.

 

I don't know why you people hate 512s so much. I owned 2 sets and I had no problems with them. Great all season tires.

 

Still have em on my stock 17s and I love em, the only complaint I have is that they're kinda loud.

 

Less than 5 minutes driving on the 512s was enough for me to hate them (225/50R17). They completely changed the handling feel of my car for the worse. Yes, they are grippy, but what's the point of having grip if you have no feedback? The 512's soft sidewalls give vague steering and lousy cornering stability. They are mushy soft at normal pressures (32-35 psi) and still mushy at 47 psi. If you drive a Grand Marquis or a Park Avenue put them on; otherwise get something else.

 

I've got 2k miles on my ASX's on my GLE and like 'em alot. Good handling in both wet and dry, nice and quiet and comfortable ride. If you're looking for maximum performance, they might not be the best tire in the world. But for normal every day driving, I give 'em 2 thumbs up.

 

Toyo Proxes 4, hands-down. I have used both of those other tires, and the Proxes 4 are superior to both in all categories (and that's saying alot, because I liked my 512's alot), and around the same price. In that size, they are about $110 each from www.edgeracing.com (where I get all my tires)....

 

hmmm...
proxes eh?
edgeracing eh?

recontemplating everything now. was gonna go with tire rack...

thanks all for suggestions, i think im going with the proxes
btw Josh - theyre $127 for 235 40 18

thanks all
-Nilesh

 

I must have gotten them on sale

I like edgeracing because they're VERY fast to ship (I have gotten tires within 2 days with regular ground shipping!), and their prices are really good....

 

i wouldn't be surprised if the 512's are mushy like people say, look at how much lighter they are compared to the stz-01 and the toyo's. i've got stz-01's on my ride, they're not performance tires by any means, but definitely has a decently stiff sidewall. also i think since they're supposed to be high milage truck tires, they can't really handle the every day "performance" of our cars. and the compound that they're made out of doesn't grip at all. falken guarantees like 50k miles out of them, i've put on nearly 20k so far and i honestly think i can get another 15k out of them.

 

I'd listen to the Irishman, brother. He speaks the truth.

 

DJFreStyle, have you considered Pirelli Pzero Nero M+Ss? Or perhaps Avon Tech M550 A/Ss? Have you ever used (and thus able to compare) any of those tires Irish?

 

The 512's road noise is quite noticeable and a bit annoying at times. Its mushy and not recommendable despite a Consumer Reports article saying otherwise.
My 512's are wearing down pretty quickly and I'm very near the tread wear bars. I got the 512's back in April 2002 at 72,993kms. I'm now at 111,300kms.

 

+1. They suck. All tires with "performance" in their name are terrible products IMO. If you want to replace your tires every 15-20K miles fo ahead be my guest. If you want a tires that has excellent ratings and 40K miles actual expectancy get Turanza LS's. I have spent $950 in tires in the last 18 months. 4 BF Traction T/As (Lasted about 25K miles) and 2 falken 512s lasted 15K. Now I just spent another $630 on turanzas.

You do the math. If you don't believe me call tire rack and they will tell you the same. "Performance" tires are not made to last no matter how much $ you spend. They are such a waste on a sedan

 

The jury sure is out on this one - I have no complaints whatsoever about my 512's. Had them about a year and have put 25K on them - still plenty of tread left and they don't feel all that mushy. Now I don't have a lowered car (yet!) but I would recommend them...

Maybe all the varience is coming from size / driving style and or stance of the car? 245/40/18's for me...